Sulky beet-root cutter.



' No. 741,794. 'PATENTED 001. 20, 1903.

- T. J. HUBBELL.

SULKY BEET BOOT CUTTER. APPLICATION PILEDAUG. 19, 1902.

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NITED STATES Iatented October 20, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. HUBBELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-ELEVENTHS TO H. O. NORRIS AND O. E. NORTON,

CALIFORNIA.

OF Los ANGELES,

SULKY BEET-ROOT CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,794, dat d O t b20, 1903.

. Application filed August 19, 1902. Serial No. 120,225. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. HUBBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sulky Beet-RootOut ters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means to cut the tap-roots of beets while thebeets are in the ground ready to be harvested, so as to facilitate theirremoval in harvesting them; and the object of my invention is to providemeans to facilitate the harvesting of beets. I accomplish this object bymeans of the mechanism described herein and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of asulky beet-root cutter embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetailed view of a fragment of the pivotal connection of the tongue withthe head-block in the frame of the sulky.

My invention has relation more particularly to means for harvestingsugar-beets. These beets are usually planted in rows from sixteen toeighteen inches apart, and when ready for harvesting the tap-root haspenetrated so far into the ground that the beets can only be removedwith considerable labor unless the tap-root is cut; and the purpose ofmy invention is to provide simple and reliable means for cutting thetap-root just below the body of the beet, at the same time loosening theearth around the beet in order thatthe beet may be easily removedthereafter.

In the drawings the frame of the beet-r00 cutter comprisesvside pieces AA, of angleiron, which converge toward one another at their forwardends. A back piece A, of angle-iron, embraces and connects the rear endsof the side pieces, and a head-block D is received between and supportedby the con verged forward ends of the side pieces, to which it isattached. The frame rests upon and is secured to a U shaped axle in anysuitable manner, the ends of the axle being provided with wheels. Atongue Bis secured to the head-block D by means of a king-bolt E, andsecured to the under face of the tongue 7 by means of the bolts 1 and 2is a circular or projecting flanges F F, between which the tongue fitssnugly, being drawn therebetween by means of the bolts 1 and 2. Thisplate rests upon a companion plate G, of like shape and size, rigidlyaffixed to the head-block. These two plates are held in frictionalengagement by the king-bolt E, whereby a pivotal connection isestablished between the tongue and the head-block.

Mounted on the head-block and in the rear of the plate F is thespring-pressed detentbolt H. This bolt has a square forward end adaptedto enter a recess or socket F (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) in theplates F and G and hold them in a locked position when the detent-boltis in its advanced position, as shown in the drawings. The spiral springI will tend to hold the detent-bolt in its advanced position, and whenit is in that position the tongue will be in direct alinement with thesulky-frame. Now when it is intended to make a short turn with thesulky, the detent-string J, removably secured to the seat U at one endand to the detent-bolt at the other end, is drawn back. This willwithstring will again permit the spring to advance the bolt, and whenthe tongue returns to its position in alinement with the sulky-frame,the spring will advance the detent-bolt into the socket and lock thetongue.

The draft-standard K projects upwardly through the head-block, to thelower end of which standard are secured the side bars M, the rear endsof which are pivoted to the plow-beam N. In the draft-standard below thehead-block are holes K for engaging a clevis to which to secure thedoubletree, while atthe upper end of the draft-standard are adjusting-pin holes (not shown) for the reception of the adjusting-pin O,by means of which the plow may be adjusted as to elevation.

The forward end of the plow-beam N is pivotally connected with thehand-lever P by the lifting-straps Q, the hand-lever being pivotedcentrally in hearings on the upright lever-support R. The free end ofthe handlever passes through the adjusting rack-guide S, (mounted on theupturned center of the sulky-axle 0,) which rack-guide is provided withnotches S to engage the flange P on the hand-lever and hold the same inany adjusted position. The lever is held spring-pressed against thesenotches by the spring 8. It will be manifest that the elevation of thefree end of the hand-lever will operate to depress the point of the plowand cause it to run into the ground, while to depress the hand-leverwill cause the point of the plow to run out of the ground. Holes N onthe forward end of the plowbeam, in combination with the bolt whichsecures this end of the beam to the supporting-straps, will affordadditional means to adjust the elevation of the plow. The cutting-wing Von the plow-standard X will pass below the beet and cut the tap-rootthereof and at same time, loosen the beet and the ground. around it, sothat it can be easily removed from the ground. The point of the plow Won the land side will operate to steady the cutting-point and hold thesame firmly to its work.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A beet-root cutter comprising a frame, the frame composed of sides,the forward ends of Which converge, a head-block located between andconnecting the forward converging ends of the sides, a bar connectingand embracing the rear ends of the sides, an axle carried by the sidesof the frame and independent of the bar, a plow-beam, a cutter carriedthereby, means for movably connecting the plow-beam to the frame andmeans for effecting an adjustment of the plow-beam.

2. A beet-root cutter comprising a frame of angle-iron, the forward endsof the frame converging, a head-block received between and secured tothe converging ends of the frame, the block being supported on theangle-iron, a plow-beam pivotally secured to the frame,

a cutter carried by the plow-beam, and means carried by the frame foradjusting the plowbeam.

3. In a beet-root cutter, the combination with a frame, of a head-blocksupported in the frame, a draft-standard adjustably secured to thehead-block, a plow-beam, cutters carried thereby, side bars pivotallyconnecting the plow-beam and the standard, a suitablysupportedhand-lever and means connecting the hand-lever and the plow-beam,respectively.

4. In a beet-root cutter, the combination with a frame, of a head-blockcarried thereby, a standard supported by the head-block, a plow-beam, acutter carried thereby, aside bar extending on each side of theplow-beam and pivotally connected at their rear ends to the rear end ofthe plow-beam, the forward ends of the side bars being pivotallyconnected to the draft-standard, means for adjusting the elevation ofthe plow-standard, and a tongue connected with the head-block, thetongue normally retained in fixed relation therewith.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a framecomprising side and end bars, of an integral arched axle supported inthe frame, wheels carried by the axle, a head-block supported in theframe, a

tongue secured to the head-block, astandard depending from thehead-block, links connected to the standard, a plow-beam secured to thelinks, cutter carried by the plow-beam, a lever,asuitable supporttherefor,and means connecting the lever and plow-beam.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 3d day of July, 1902.

THOMAS J. HUBBELL.

Witnesses:

M. 0. NICKELESON, G. E. HARPHAM.

